The Labor enquirer., 1887-01-08
DO you THINK,
A Few Pointed Questions Asked Of The
Ruling Glasses, and Answ
Must Be Given.

Do you think that the state shoult
take the very best care of it's horsl
thieves. cutthroats., burglars, tortureTs
drunkards, etc.,-build massive wall ol
granite round about, rear fine glazed
tile roof over them, clothe them IN
striped but comfortable garb. feed them
on coarse but nourishing food, warm
them with the latest improved heaters
ventilate their narrow but safe retreats
with splendid Sturdevant fans. and In
all earthly things make the basest
meanest and foulest of our race 'sure
and safe from all alarm" and do moth
ing whatever tossid the honest but poor
producer to obtain steady and profitable
employment. provide raiment or shelter
for him or his innocents. or interpose q
protecting arm when he is hard pressed
and sore In need?
Do YOU think it quite the thing for
the penal institutions of tue state to
C zlly care for the worst elements of 80
ciety, and do nothing whatever for chose
who from their youth up have kept
their manhood's honor from contami-
nation freeP N
Do you think the state should be
more "paternal" to the wicked and dis
obedient tnan to its faithful and law
abiding citizens?. E
Do YOU think 1t in keeping with the
stiut of our age and time" and Gin ac-
cordance with the genius of our free in
stitutions" for the state to look with its
cold, classic eye on the struggles of the
despairing and oppressed, and not deign
to move a muscle or crook a finger until
some poverty -goaded soul has broken
the lawP
Do you think that our,svstem of pro-
duction and distributionNis the ne plus
ultra of all possible Things when YOU
know that the national treasury il
bursting with the wealth filched> from
the needy; the golden grain Of western
farms is moulding above strain warped
rafters and iron beams in metropolitan
elevators; the cattle from a thousand
fields and hills are in the grasp of the
surfeited few and select, while those
who wrought, strained and groaningy
surcharged the overhowing Cornucopia
of the western world pine and starve
and die amid the abundance they
brought forth =?
Do you think the time has come when
a county judge and picked jury Of
gentlemen" should be allowed to set at
naught the grand words: Congress
shall make no law respecting an estab.
lishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof, or abridging the
freedom of speech or of the press, or the
right of the people peacefully to assem-
bic and to petition the government for a
redress of grievances p
Do you think it the part of wisdom to
say unto hungry, discontented labor:
There is art, science, literature, relig-
ion, politics, government all these sub
jects YOU can take up at pleasure and
discuss, review and contend about; but
the grand industrial problem which lies
at the foundation of all these shall be
unto thee as the treein the midst of the
garden, from which thou shalt not eat
for in the day that thou eateth there.
| from thou shalt surely die?
Do you think that when some grand
Adam oyersteps the law and talks out
bravely, and boldly has his say, that 1t
is exactly right to put a policeman with
la Colts revolver or Pinkerton brigand
with a Winchester rifle in the place Of
the winged seraph with the flaming
sword? ~.
Do you think the way to answer those
who beg for leave to toll is to give them
dose Of cold lead Do YOU think the
"rife diet" is any more acceptable to
those who ask for bread than stone ?
or Is Il crushed skull better than scor-
pion for him vino prags for meat?
Do You think the p,vertv pinehed
toilers of the United st ties ara forever
going to be obedient and COW and crinse
before brute power? When the N N ev
power stooDs to brute force to overawe
the muscle power of the millions, dc
YOU think that mel who fought in the
Wilderness-at Malvern Hill, Gettys-
bnrg, Fort Fisher and Petersburg-are
going to quietly sab,nit to being shot
down in the land they made free and
filled with plentyP y h
| Do you think that il was only for tn I
emancipation of African slavery thai
the great heart of the north can be
/ fred?
Il Do you think blood appeases and
atones? Think you to kill an idea with
a bit of hemp. or stay the on-comipg of .
great reform by little gibbet scene in
the corner of prison yard y?
| II you do. YOU are. of all the mean
miserable and narrow.minded men o
earth the most stupid and duncical.
], Card.
We wish to take this opportunity TO ex